Only three African countries are likely to reach the global goal of exclusive breastfeeding

According to a global health expert, only three African countries should achieve the global goal of exclusive badfeeding, "an unparalleled nutritional source for newborns and infants, no matter where they are born."

The three countries, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda and São Tomé and Príncipe, are the subject of a new study of the Institute of Metrology and Health Evaluation (IHME) of the Medical School of the University of Washington. The study, published today in Nature Medicine Prior to World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, there are areas of low and persistent prevalence in countries that have generally progressed. Detailed maps accompanying the badysis reveal vulnerable populations, especially those living in rural areas and in extreme poverty.

The researchers noted, however, that several countries, including Burundi, Rwanda and parts of Ethiopia, Uganda and Zambia, were among the highest rates of exclusive badfeeding in 2000. and 2017. Sudan has registered one of the "highest and most consistent rates of increase" towards the World Health Organization's exclusive badfeeding goal. (WHO) – prevalence of 2025 by at least 50% nationwide. The annual Global Health Study, titled Global Burden of Disease, has attributed 169,000 child deaths to badfeeding failure in 2017, more than half of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, according to the WHO, badfeeding and bringing it back to an almost universal level could save more than 800,000 lives each year, the majority being children under 6 months of age.

The paper examines the prevalence of badfeeding at the district and municipal levels and compares progress in 49 African countries. The document is accompanied by an interactive visualization tool that allows users to compare the prevalence of exclusive badfeeding within and between countries, to look at the rate of change over time and to see the likelihood of badfeeding. Achieve the goal of the WHO by 2025.

The value of exclusive badfeeding of children can not be overstated.

Breastfeeding is an unparalleled source of nutrition for newborns and infants no matter where they are born. If we really want to make sure that every baby gets a good start in life, we need to know who does not get the support they need to badfeed. By illustrating the decline in exclusive badfeeding rates, these maps are a powerful tool to help policymakers and practitioners examine and address disparities in their countries. "

Dr. Ellen Piwoz, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

In 2017, the prevalence of exclusive badfeeding was at least twice as high in the districts of 53% of the countries, three times more in 14% of the countries and more than six times in Niger and Nigeria.

Exclusive badfeeding refers to mothers who use only bad milk to feed their children for the first six months, with medications, oral rehydration salts and vitamins as needed. This practice provides essential nutrition and can prevent infections and diseases, especially in areas without access to safe water.

The detailed maps of the study reveal the vulnerable populations left behind. Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia and Tanzania had areas with a probability of less than 5% reaching the goal of WHO and, simultaneously, communities with a probability of more than 95% to reach it.

"Our maps allow us to see patterns and trends that are not visible at the national level and are an invaluable resource for ministries of health and others who make decisions to promote the well-being of children" , said the lead author, Natalia Bhattacharjee Research Scientist at IHME.

The WHO and other organizations are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week to encourage badfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. They advocate "family-friendly policies to enable badfeeding and help parents feed their children and build relationships with them from the beginning of life, when it matters most," according to the website. Web of WHO. This includes the adoption of paid maternity and paternity leave.

The document is part of the Local Burden of Disease (LBD) project at IHME, led by Dr. Simon I. Hay, Director of Geospatial Sciences at IHME and Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ottawa. University of Washington. It was funded by the Gates Foundation.

"Our collaboration with the Gates Foundation, as well as with other researchers, academics and clinicians around the world, allows us to develop the best possible tools to reach populations where health care support can make a difference." bigger difference, "said Hay.

This study is the latest in a series of IHME papers as part of the institute's LBD project, which produces estimates of health outcomes and badociated measures spanning whole continents at a fine resolution. Project leaders are looking for additional collaborators, including academics, researchers and others, to provide data and evaluate paper projects.